Vacuum Pruning Head for Strawberry Canopy Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The labor-intensive process of harvesting strawberry fruit is complicated by the dense foliage of strawberry plants, which requires significant time and resources to manage, leading to increased risk of pests and diseases and reduced crop yield.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for pruning strawberry plants using a tube assembly connected to a vacuum source and a cutting head assembly with upper and lower blades, allowing for the removal of leaves, stems, and runners, thereby improving visibility and accessibility of the fruit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If strawberry plants are allowed to grow for multiple months to produce fruit, then crop yield increases, but plant canopy size and foliage density increase, making harvesting more labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the plant canopy management into distinct phases: allowing full growth for yield, then systematically removing foliage in sections during harvesting. The hand-held device enables workers to selectively remove leaves and runners segment by segment as they harvest, rather than managing the entire canopy at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts harmful or unnecessary plant material (leaves, runners, unwanted vegetation) from the plant canopy during the harvesting process. The hand-held cutting device allows workers to remove and discard excess foliage as they harvest fruit, separating the useful fruit from the burdensome vegetation.
2Productivity
If dense foliage is allowed to accumulate during plant growth, then plant canopy development is natural, but visibility and accessibility of fruit for harvesting are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having workers remove foliage and runners before or during the harvesting of each fruit. The hand-held device enables proactive canopy management, clearing the way for subsequent fruit harvesting and improving visibility of remaining fruit on the plant.
3Productivity
If plant canopy size increases with growth, then more fruit can be produced, but labor and resources required for plant management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two operations into one: fruit harvesting and canopy management. The hand-held device allows workers to simultaneously harvest fruit and remove excess foliage, runners, and leaves in a single pass through the plant, combining what would traditionally be separate tasks into one efficient operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling individual workers to manage their own harvesting efficiency through the hand-held device. Each worker can independently control the removal of foliage and runners as needed for their specific harvesting tasks, without requiring separate teams or complex centralized management systems.
4Productivity
If foliage accumulates around fruit during growth season, then plant growth is uninterrupted, but risk of pests, fungus, and disease increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful dense foliage into a beneficial managed canopy. By systematically removing excess leaves and runners during harvesting, the device transforms the overgrown vegetation that would harbor pests and disease into a controlled environment where foliage is strategically retained only where it supports fruit production, while excess material is removed to reduce disease risk.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces labor costs and improves harvesting efficiency by maintaining manageable plant canopies, reducing pest and disease risks, and allowing for increased plant density and crop yield.
Implementation Method 1
a tube assembly connected to a vacuum source
Data Source
AI summary
A pruning system includes a cutting head comprising upper and lower cutting rings positioned along a bottom portion of one or more tubes. At least one cutting ring is adapted to rotate in a circular motion, while the other cutting ring may be adapted to remain stationary. A vacuum may be applied to suction target plant material, and the cutting head may be lowered toward the target plant material. As adjacent blades from the upper and lower cutting rings are separated in an open position, plant material may be collected in the opening defined by the adjacent blades. As the blades converge, the opening may close, and plant material collected in the opening may be severed from the plant. System variables, may be adjusted to accommodate different types of plant material. The pruning system may be used with a vision system to remove materials from plant beds in a field.